Two accused found guilty of murdering Williamsburg mandir watchman

Ryan Persaud (left) and Shivnarine Jainarine
Ryan Persaud (left) and Shivnarine Jainarine

Two men were yesterday found guilty of murdering a Williamsburg mandir watchman in January, 2013, after a lengthy trial in the High Court in Berbice.

The two men, Shivnarine Jainarine, also known as “Sammy,” of Train Line Dam, Port Mourant, Corentyne and Ryan Persaud, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice, were on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury.

The men are accused of murdering Jagdat Ramcharran, also known as ‘Ronald,’ 61, a security guard of Bloomfield, Corentyne, between January 6th and January 7th, 2013.

Ryan Persaud

The men will return to the High Court on Novem-ber 29th, when they are expected to be sentenced, after a probation report is presented on behalf of each. 

The case was presented by State Prosecutor Mandel Moore, while attorney Mursaline Bacchus represented Jainarine and attorney Arud Gossai represented Persaud.

During the trial, Moore called ten witnesses, while the defence team called a total of three witnesses.

The body of Ramcharran, who was on duty at the Iskcon Sri Sri Radha Gokula Chandra Mandir at Block 6 Williamsburg, Corentyne, was found on the mandir’s porch with his hands and feet bound and a cloth tied tightly around the neck around 3 am on January 7th, 2013.

A pair of pure gold ‘murti’ slippers, a bell and a tape recorder were discovered missing

Jagdat Ramcharran

from the mandir and it was suspected that the bandits cut open a grill to gain entry to the building and ransacked it.